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House DFLers select Stephenson as speaker-designate for 2027-2028 biennium

By Mike Cook
House DFL Caucus Leader Zack Stephenson speaks in the House Chamber in March 2026. House DFLers elected Stephenson as speaker-designate for the 2027-2028 biennium. (Photo by Andrew VonBank)
House DFL Caucus Leader Zack Stephenson speaks in the House Chamber in March 2026. House DFLers elected Stephenson as speaker-designate for the 2027-2028 biennium. (Photo by Andrew VonBank)

House DFLers elected current caucus leader Zack Stephenson (DFL-Coon Rapids) as speaker-designate Thursday night.

Stephenson, who has served as DFL Caucus Leader since 2025, worked on the 2004 campaign of Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman (DFL-Brooklyn Park), who was assassinated in June 2025. The fifth-term legislator will now fulfill the same role of leading the chamber.

“I am honored to have earned the support of my colleagues to become the 60th Speaker of the Minnesota House of Representatives, following in Melissa Hortman’s footsteps,” Stephenson said in a statement. “We’ll govern in a way that would make her proud.”

First elected in 2018, Stephenson will preside over a House that is projected to have a 77-57 DFL advantage following Tuesday’s election. The race won by Rep. Nolan West (R-Blaine) is subject to a recount after his 22-vote win over DFLer Amanda Matchett.
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